Electric heater



April 16, '1935-4 R. CAUSSE 1,998,308

ELECTRIC HEATER Filed Dec, 15, 195s 2 sheets-met 2 h1 er1-tor:

' l Rene Causse,

H35 Attornefg.

Patented Apr.r 16,1935 y Eiectric Company, a

Yorkv corporation of New Application member 1s, 193s, sei-m No. '102,532 In France April 18,` 1933 '6 Claims. (Cl. 21H7) This invention relates to electric heaters, more particularly to electrically heated hotplates, and it has for its object the provision of an improved heating device of `this character.

It is frequently very dimcult and even impossible to properly clean many of the heatlnglplates which are now -used 'in 'electric chaiing-dishes, kitchen ranges, 'and like electric heating devices. spilled food particles and other foreign substances collect in certain inaccessible of these plates and their containers, and not only soil them, but also impair them by weakening their insulation or by corrodlng them.

The arrangements which heretofore have been proposed to obviate these dimculties have not given entire satisfaction, for 'they frequently cause a 'rapid deterioration oi' the connections without, forthat matter, making the cleaning much easier.

The present invention contemplates animproved heating device whichpermits rapid and easy cleaning, and moreover, which obviates any possibility 'of electric shock even though the plates are energized 'while being cleaned. This inven-f tion also contemplates the provision of means for preventing foreign substances, such as fatty or acid substances, from coming into contact with and deteriorating the heating resistances,

the electrlcalsupply conductors, and the connections between the supply conductors and the heating ri'stances.' Moreover, hotplates in accordance with thispinvention 'are easily adapted velement and its receptacle arranged so as to provide for movement of the heating element from the receptacle to a plane substantiallyparai'iel with the receptacle, and also for rotary motion of the heating element in this plane to a position where the element uncovers substantially all oi the inner surfaces of the receptacle. In one form of this invention, the pivotal connection comprises a cylindrical connector rigidly secured to the heating element and passed through 'an aperture provided for it in the bottom of the heating plate. The axis of the connector is 'air`anged eccentrically with the central vertical axis of the pan.l The connector is sumconnector. The connector is provided with -suit- 1 able baille means for preventing foreign stances from falling into the connector and contacting the electrical conductors, oi the connections between the conductors and the heating element. l

For amore completel understanding of this invention, reference should behad to the accompanying drawings in which Fig. 1 is a central vertical sectional view of an electric hotplate arranged in accordance with this invention; 2

Fig. 2 is 'a view similar to Fig. 1. but showing only the receptacle for the heating element insection, and illustrating the heating' element removed from its receptacle to a plane above the receptacle; Fig. 3 is a. plan view of the hotplate 25 of Figs. 1 and 2, vbut showing the heating element revolved in its elevated plane to a position whereby access can be had to the receptacle for cleaning purposes and the like; Figs. 4. 5 and B are views similar to'Figs. 1, 2 and 3, respecf 3 tively, but illustrating an electric hotplate of modified form varranged in accordance with this invention.

`Referring more specically to Figs. i3, in-

elusive, this-.invention is shown as applied to an 35 electric hotpla'te c'mnprislng a heating grid which consists ot two heating elements Il and I I. These elements preferably will be of the sheathed type, such as describedy claimed in the United states patent w C. c. Abbott, No. 1,361,341-, 4

dated February 1, 1921. Briey, these elements comprise a helical resistance heating element 'Il encased in a cylindrical metallic sheath il. The

heating element i! is embedded in and' supported 45 in spaced relation with to the sheath by means of a suitablycompacted, heat conducting, electrically insulatin'gmaterial I l, such as inagnesium oxide.

As shown in Fig. 3, the heating element il is cent the outer periphery of the heating element I0, as clearly shown in Fig. 3.

It will be observed that by reason of this arrangement, the two heating elements provide two concentric heating zones which can be utilized separately or simultaneously by controlling the energization of the heating elements in a manner well understood by those skilled in the art.

The two heating elements I and II are mounted upon a support I5 made of any suitable material, such as sheet steel, or cast iron. The heating elements are rigidly secured to the framework I5 in any suitable manner, but preferably will be arrangedin recesses I 'l provided for them in the upper edges of the framework and secured to the framework by means of arms or jaws I8 formed of the material of theframework on each side of the recesses and arranged to grip the opposite sides of the heating elements, as clearly shown in Figs. 2 and 3. The foregoing construction unites the heating elements and framework into a rigid unitary structure.

The support I5 rests on the bottom of a relatively shallow dish or pan-like metallic receptacle I5. As shown in Fig. l, the framework I5 supports the heating elements in an elevated position so that the heating grid projects somewhat above the side walls of the receptacle,

Y whereby articles placed upon the hotplate rest directly on the heating grid out of contact with the side walls. Preferably, the heating elements I0 and II will be arranged so that when they are supported on their framework I5, as shown in Fig. 1, they will cover an area substantially coextensive with the entire area of the bottom wall of the receptacle.

The terminal ends Illa and I Ia. of the two heating elements respectivelyy are turned downwardly, as shown in Fig. 1, and are received in a cylindrical connector member I 9. This connector member, as shown, is positioned adjacent the outer edge oi.' the heatinggrid and is rigidly secured to the grid in a nianner to be described presently.

The connector member I9 functions to mechanically connect the heating elements to the pan I6 so that these elements can be elevated from the pan to a plane above it and substantially parallel with the bottom of the pan, as shown in Fig. 2, and further, so that the elements can be rotated in this plane from the position shown in Fig. 2 to the position shown in Fig. 3 so as to expose substantially all of the inner surfaces of the pan.

For this purpose, the bottom of the pan II is provided with an aperture 2l forreceiving the connector I9. This aperture 2| is suiliciently large to pennit the connector to be slid freely through the aperture. The connector is provided with a bead 22 at its lower end arranged to limit the upward travel of the connector I 5 through the aperture.

Electrical supply conductors 23 for the heating elements are directed up into the connector from the bottom of the pan. These conductors are secured to the terminals 24 of the heaters in any suitable well-known manner.

A baille member 25 is secured to the upper end of the connector member arranged to prevent liquids and otherv foreign bodies from entering into the connector and contacting the electrical conductors 23 or the connections between the conductors and the heating elements.

The baille member 25 functions also to secure l ertures through which the terminal ends Ila and IIa of ythe elements pass. The baille is secured to these ends by-means of welded or similar joints 26. The connector is secured to the baille by means of a suitable bolt 21.

Itwill be observed that the vertical axis of the connector member I! is eccentrically arranged with reference to the vertical axis of the pan so that when the heating element is moved upwardly from thepan from its position (Fig. 1) to its elevated position (Fig. 2) and thenv rotated on the axis of the connector to its position shown in Fig. 3, it will substantially uncover all ot the inner parts of the pan, whereby both the pan and the heating element can be cleaned conveniently.

The supply conductors 23 terminate in a terminal plate 28 which is fastened, as shown, to the bottom of the pan I 5 by means of a suitable screw 2l. 'I'he conductors, it will be observed, are of such a length that they can follow the motions of the connector up through the pan without straining the conductors.

It will be observed, in view of the fact that the resistance heating elements I2 are completely enclosed in metallic sheaths and the connections between the supply conductors and the heating elements are enclosed in the conductor I9, that no heating elements 30 and 'I I, rather than the coiled elements Il and II shown in Figs. l-3. Ihese elements ll and 3| are supported upon a suitable framework 32 which in turn rests upon the bottom ot the receptacle 33 provided for the heating elements so as to support the elements in an elevated position, as clearly shown in Fig. 4. The heating elements are mechanically connected with the pan by means of a connector member l5 which is received in an aperture I0 provided for it in the receptacle. The connector member 35 has substantially the same construction as has the connector member II ofl Figs. 1*?, and is arranged in substantially the same manner so that the heating elements Il and II can be moved upwardly from the pan 3l from the position shown in Fig. 4 to the position shown in Fig. 5, and then rotated on the connector from the position shown.

in Fig. 5 to the position shown in Fig. 6 to expose substantially all parts-ot the heating elements and the pan.

, Suitable connection supply cables 31 are directed up through the connector member 35 to the terminals I8 of the heating elements. These cables terminate in a terminal plate I! secured modifications may be made, and I, therefore, contemplate by the appended claims to cover any such modincations as fall within the true spirit vthe connector to the heatingY elements. As

and scope of my invention. i

What I claim as new and desire to secure by elevated position so that it projects somewhat Letters Patent of the United States, is: above the side wall of said receptacle, means 1. An electric hotplate comprising a heating rigidly securing said heating element to said element, a receptacle having side walls and a botframework so as to unite said members into a tom wall receiving said heating element and a pivrigid unitary structure, an elongated cylindrical otal connecting member positioned off the center connector rigidly secured to said unitary structure of said receptacle mechanically connecting said adjacent one edge thereof, said receptacle being heating element to said receptacle and providprovided with an aperture adjacent One 0f its edges ing for limited movement of said heating elefor receiving said cylindrical connector, said conment out of said receptacle to a plane substantial- /iector being arranged to slide freely in said aperly parallel with said receptacle, and for rotation ture relative to said receptacle so that said unitary of said heating element in said plane so as to unstructure can be moved from said receptacle to a cover the bottom wall of said receptacle. plane above its side wall, and can be rotatedn said 2. An electric hotplate comprising a, heating plane on said connector as an axis, means on said element, a pan-like receptacle having a bottom connector for engaging said receptacle to limit its wall and side wells extending upwardly therefrom movement relative to said receptacle. terminals receiving said heating element so that it rests for said heating element located in said connector, upon said bottom wall within said side walls, and electrical supply conductors for said heating elea pivotal connection between said heating element ment passed into said connector where they are and said receptacle located eccentrically to the connected with said terminals, and a baille above central vertical axis of said receptacle, and prosaid connector arranged to prevent foreign matvidng for limited vertical movement of said heatters from entering Said COImeCtOI'- ing element out of said receptacle to a plane above M5. An electric hotplate comprising a heating elesaid side walls and substantially parallel with the ment of grid formation, a relatively shallow flat bottom wall of said receptacle, and for rotary/ receptacle having a bottom wall and side walls motion of said heating element in said plane to extending upwardly therefrom receiving said a position where it substantially uncovers` the heating element with said element embraced by entire bottom wall of said receptacle. said side walls, a cylindrical connector secured to 3. An electric hotplate comprising a heating said heating element and received in an aperture element of grid formation, a relatively shallow provided for it in the bottom of the receptacle, flat receptacle having a bottom wall and side walls the vertical axis of said connector being perpenextending upwardly therefrom receiving said dicular to the bottom wall of said., receptacle, heating element, a cylindrical connector member said connector providing for limited vertical movesecured to said heating element and received in ment of said heating element out of said recepan aperture provided for it in the bottom wall of tacle to a plane above the side wall of said recepsaid receptacle, the vertical axis of said contacle and substantially parallel with its bottom nector being substantially perpendicular to said wall, and for rotar ovement of said heating elebottom wall and eccentrically positioned with rement in said plane, electrical supply conductors spect to the vertical axis of said receptacle, said for said heating element passing through said connector member providing for limited vertical cylindrical connector to said heating element and movement of said heating element out of said rea terminal member for said conductors secured to ceptacle to a plane above the side walls of said the bottom wall of said receptacle. receptacle and substantially parallel with its bot- 6. An electric hotplate comprising a plurality of t01'!! Wall1 and fOr IOtarymovement of said heatoncentrically arranged annular heating eleing element in said plane to a position uncoverments, a frame supporting said heating elements, ing substantially all of said bottom wall, and eleca. pan-like receptacle having a bottom wall and trlCal Supply Conductors fOr Said heating element side walls extending upwardly therefrom receiving passing through said aperture in said bottom wall said heating eleme s and frame within said side and said cylindrical connector to said heating walls and a pivotal connection between said heatelement. ing elements and frame and said receptacle located 4. An electric hotplate comprising a relatively eccentrically to the central vertical axis of said shallow flat cylindrical receptacle, a sheathed receptacle and providing for limited movement heating element formed into a plurality of convoof said heating elements and frame out of said lutions deiining a grid having substantially the receptacle to a plane substantially parallel with same contour as said receptacle and when tted the bottom wall of said receptacle and for rotary into said receptacle being substantially coextenmotion of said heating elements and frame in sive with the entire area of the bottom wall of said plane. said receptacle, a framework resting on said bottom wall supporting said heating element in an R. CAUSSE. 

